Einstein tile: new non-repeatable pattern

Image credit: Sage w/ Design

The "Einstein tile" is the first single tile shape that can be placed an infinite amount of times over without creating a repeatable pattern.

This produces interesting results for design.

Unique patterns attract the eye. When the eye catches something that it can't immediately figure it out, we give it a closer look.

The Einstein Tile could lead to the development of new materials which are formed by a strong, complex structure. The Riedel-Kruse lab used bacteria to model this idea.

"Using the logic of this research, the shape, structure, elasticity and even how fluid responds—going into the material or getting repelled—can be controlled. Or consider microbial bio factories for producing drugs and other chemicals. We could control where different bacteria are placed relative to each other to execute different parts of a complex reaction," said Riedel-Kruse.

The idea of applying patterns to things is an attempt to try to understand the world around us. Whether or not everything in life can be defined with patterns has always been, and still is, up for debate.

This could set a precedent for matching a non-repeatable pattern to erratic events or behavior, developing new materials and, at the very least, for applying it to designs to catch peoples' eye.